A treatise of liturgies, power of the keys, and of matter of the visible…A treatise of liturgies, power of the keyes, and of matter of the visible…

Answ. To extend our watch so far as hath been said unto these cases of removals from a Church, to prevent sin in abrupt breaking off and forsaking fellowship, and to prevent the hurt and damage which the sheep of Christ oft fall into in their unadvised breaking out of the fold the Lord hath placed them in, and to further their best good in their removals; whatever is thought of it, we count it no breach of Christian liberty, but a privilege of the Saints to be under such a watch, and therefore if any shall neglect any duty that one owes to another, (so far as it tends necessarily to those ends) we may well reckon it as a neglect of our Covenant; but because it is offensive to compare this with the sin of Ananias, &c. we entreat our reverend brethren and the Christian Reader to consider, that in the answer, this stands in the third thing noted in the nature of the Covenant, and hath reference to the duties of the Covenant in general, and is not applied to this particular case by us, nor well appliable in the manner here expressed. Secondly, it is moderated in the answer which saith (in some sort he shall commit that sin.) If these things do not satisfy, we wish it expunged, or any other seeming harshness, rather then offence be given to any. Lastly, that you may not impute unto us the infringement of Christian liberty herein, we would acquaint all men with these two things. First, that removals from one town and Church to another and from full to new Plantations, are frequently practised amongst us, with consent and approbation. Secondly, that we find in experience, that as there is in sheep a wandering disposition, so in this large Wilderness, (wherein the Lord hath exercised his people with various temptations, by liberties, by offers of large outward accommodations, by wants and straights, by various opinions vented by Satan and his instruments, &c.) In these respects the Sheep of Christ are so subject many times to outrunnings, that we find more then ordinary need of care and wisdom in this point of our watch in many cases; and many that have broke loose from the counsels of their officers, friends, and ⟨p. 183⟩of the Church, have deeply smarted for it;

Answ. To extend our watch so farre as hath been said unto these cases of removalls from a Church, to prevent sinne in abrupt breaking off and forsaking fellowship, and to prevent the hurt and damage which the sheepe of Christ oft fall into in their unadvised breaking out of the fold the Lord hath placed them in, and to further their best good in their removalls; whatever is thought of it, wee count it no breach of Christian liberty, but a priviledge of the Saints to bee under such a watch, and therefore if any shall neglect any duty that one owes to another, (so farre as it tends necessarily to those ends) wee may well reckon it as a neglect of our Covenant; but because it is offensive to compare this with the sinne of Ananias, &c. wee intreat our reverend brethren and the Christian Reader to consider, that in the answer, this stands in the third thing noted in the nature of the Covenant, and hath reference to the duties of the Covenant in generall, and is not applyed to this particular case by us, nor well appliable in the manner here expressed. Secondly, it is moderated in the answer which saith (in some sort hee shall commit that sinne.) If these things doe not satisfie, wee wish it expunged, or any other seeming harshnesse, rather then offence be given to any. Lastly, that you may not impute unto us the infringement of Christian liberty herein, wee would acquaint all men with these two things. First, that removals from one towne and Church to another and from full to new Plantations, are frequently practised amongst us, with consent and approbation. Secondly, that wee finde in experience, that as there is in sheepe a wandring disposition, so in this large Wildernesse, (wherein the Lord hath exercised his people with various temptations, by liberties, by offers of large outward accommodations, by wants and straights, by various opinions vented by Satan and his instruments, &c.) In these respects the Sheepe of Christ are so subject many times to outrunnings, that wee finde more then ordinary need of care and wisedome in this point of our watch in many cases; and many that have broke loose from the counsels of their officers, friends, and